The Best Resistance Exercise Bands in 2018 – Top Reviews

We decided to test and review some of the best resistance and exercise bands on the market. We think the best of the lot are the Tribe 11pc Resistance Band Set, these versatile bands come in varying strengths and have everything you need to get a whole body workout in no matter where you are.

Bestoverallpick!

Best overall: Tribe Resistance Band Set

For the average person, however, this set from tribe has everything they need to get fit at home. It’s a complete kit, so a single purchase is enough to greatly change your home workout capabilities.

1. Best Overall Resistance Exercise Bands

Tribe 11pc Resistance Band Set

For the average person, this is the perfect set to accompany your training. It comes with five different strengths of bands and handles which attach as well as a door attachment and even ankle loops.

They’re made of durable, high-grade silicone and they can be stacked with multiple bands on the handles to give you an even wider range of resistance than you’d suspect in the first place.

These bands really are suitable for just about everyone, and progressive loading is a definite possibility for those who are looking for some serious training. Seasoned athletes might want something a little bit more heavy-duty, but don’t underestimate this setup.

Personally, we think the bands are a bit overrated when you look at the weights on them, and the handles seem like they could be better attached. We don’t recommend trying to max out with all of the bands at once, is what we’re saying.

Pros and Cons

Comes with five bands

Has all of the accessories you need

Durable bands

Multi-clip system for progressive resistance

Not suitable for athletes

Clip attachments could be done better

2. Best Resistance Bands for Rehab

Fit Simplify Resistance Loop Exercise Bands

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

For those who are just looking to get back into things, this set of five loop bands is perfect. They’re not going to please an athlete, but for rehabilitation or stabilization training for injury prevention they’re perfect.

Loop bands aren’t the most versatile around, but they’re awesome for keeping your shoulders and neck strong. The weight ranges here are actually pretty light for most people, but physical rehab exercises rarely require heavy resistance in the first place.

The bands are extremely well made despite their low price as well. We can’t imagine them snapping under normal usage, although you may want to inspect them before each use just to be sure.

They even come with a handy bag that will hold everything for you. This makes them convenient for storage and travel as well.

For those looking for rehabilitation, or just something to apply some tension while on the road and uncertain of gym locations, these loop bands are perfect. They come with everything you need to start getting back on your feet.

Pros and Cons

Perfect for those who are doing physical rehab

Five strengths of band

High-quality bands

Fold up into a small bag for convenience

Not great for strength training

Fairly light resistance overall

3. Best Resistance Exercise Bands for Strength Training

WEINAS Resistance Bands

Product Rating4.5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

If you’ve been looking for something for serious strength training then you’re in luck. These heavy-duty bands are perfect for those who are looking to get in a serious workout without all of the bulk of barbells and dumbbells.

The metal carabiners are super heavy duty and the nylon sleeves prevent the bands from snapping if you over-do it. The carabiner system also makes it easy to add progressive resistance, so you’ll be good to go even with strong exercises like chest press and squats.

They’re a bit too heavy for beginners, the lightest band is rated at twenty pounds after all, but for someone in good to great shape they’re absolutely perfect. Simply put, for those looking to gain strength and size these workout bands are utterly fantastic.

The only real drawback here is the high cost, the construction quality is through the roof and that naturally ends with them costing more than most of the sets out there.

If you’re looking for bands suitable for strength training then you’ll fall in love with this set. They’re perfect for getting in a heavy workout.

Pros and Cons

Large amounts of resistance

Easy-to-use carabiners

Anti-snap protection

Comes with everything you need for a whole body workout

Too much resistance for some people

High cost

4. Best Figure 8 Bands

iRibit Fitness Figure 8

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

While figure 8 bands aren’t the most popular fitness device in the world, they’re exactly what some people are looking for. These bands work perfectly for the exercises they’re designed for by sacrificing some of the utility you’ll get from more regular bands.

This was the best set we were able to find. It comes with three levels of resistance and comfortable handles. The bands, overall, seemed quite sturdy in the hands and actually provided quite a bit of resistance.

They’re primarily used along with Pilates and yoga exercises, where lighter resistance is ideal to work the stabilizing muscle groups of positions and stress the core.

Just keep in mind the labels on the heavy and medium seem to be switched on the bands.

If you’re looking for figure 8 bands to perfect your yoga or other workout, then these are exactly what you need. On the other hand, they’re not our first pick for those looking for rehab or strength training purposes.

Pros and Cons

Three strengths of bands

High quality

Super comfortable handles

Perfect accessory for the right workout

Not very versatile

Strengths are mismarked

5. Best Pull Up Assist Bands

POWER GUIDANCE Pull Up Assist Bands

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

For those looking for some assistance with their bodyweight workouts, these bands are perfect. They’re extra-long and have a looping design which makes it easy to assist with pullups and other bodyweight exercises if they’re held correctly.

Many people are looking to these assist bands these days: they’re one of the best ways to get your pull up numbers up. Even if you can already do quite a few they take some of the pressure off and allow you to hit a higher repetition range to really stress the muscles.

The main drawback is that these bands are expensive and you’ll need to make sure you get the right one.

They’re surprising versatile, however, and the stronger bands seemed to be able to be used for assistance exercises as well, although not as good as the tubes we reviewed.

If you need a great pull up assistance band, these are the best of the best. They’re a bit expensive, and you’ll need to pick the correct one, but overall they’re a superior product.

Pros and Cons

Great for pull up assistance

Surprisingly versatile

Can be tailored to weight and desired assistance level

Very durable

Not as versatile as tubes

Rather expensive

Who Can Use Resistance Bands?

Resistance bands are a versatile way to make sure that you get the exercise you need. Whether you need a set for traveling, or just want them as an accessory to an already heavy workout schedule. By creating resistance through the full range of motion, you’ll be able to get a great workout.

Of course, there are options out there for everyone at the end of the day. So, let’s hop into our top reviews of exercise bands, and then we’ll help you make the right choice to add them to your workout route.

Pretty much everyone can benefit from resistance bands.

Due to the lower resistance capabilities of older bands they’ve acquired something of a sour reputation in the mouths of many fitness enthusiasts. While it may have been deserved at the time, nowadays they have a place even in the hands of athletes at the higher end of the fitness spectrum.

Keep this in mind: they’re absolutely not going to be replacing the weight pile any time soon.

But they are light, easy to store, and can provide a good challenge if you plan ahead and know what you’re doing.

Some bands can also be used to unload bodyweight exercises by providing positive resistance. This is great for women and people who’ve been injured in the past and want to progress in pull-ups or push-ups at a decent repetition range.

The biggest market for most bands is undoubtedly rehabilitation, however. When it comes to injuries, we quickly find that bands offer some of the best rehab abilities around. If you’re in that position, then it’s quite likely that a doctor has already recommended a set of bands for you, if not we’ve done our best to find some suitable.

Prehab exercises, which target small stabilizing muscles, are also a common use for bands. Athletes who want to maintain the integrity of their shoulders and hips will benefit quite a bit with the right set of bands at their side.

What Type of Bands Are Available?

The biggest factor in figuring out which band is correct for you is undoubtedly the type. We’ll get into how to pick the right resistance for what you need in just a bit, but for right now you’re going to want to figure out the type of resistance band suitable for your needs.

Flat Bands

Flat bands are common and one of the most useful types for rehabilitation exercises. They’re essentially giant rubber bands of various thicknesses for different resistance levels.

They’re extremely simple to use and can get up pretty high in resistance levels. Most of the time they don’t have handles or anything, you can just grip the band and perform the exercise gripping anywhere along its length.

These bands are best for those looking to do rehabilitation exercises, although people without a considerable amount of strength can get a good workout in with them.

Resistance Tubes

These tubes are one of the most common types commercially available. They’re a rounded tube with attached handles on the end. Their resistance can get extremely high if you’re picky when looking for your bands and they’re probably the most useful type for strength training.

They’re a bit more complicated to use, but you can get a killer workout with them. They’re our personal pick for the average person looking to get fitter, and they’re great for travelers as well.

Our personal favorites come with a loop on the end which can then be attached to a handle in order to change the resistance through the use of multiple bands. This also makes for a more compact traveling set which can still get the job done.

Tubes are probably the best around for strength training. They have varied resistance and if you choose one carefully then you should be able to get variable resistance.

Figure 8 Bands

Figure 8 bands are awesome for some uses. Since they’re shorter than most bands they lend themselves to some specialized exercises that you simply can’t do with a normal band.

For most people, we don’t think these will cut it as a total body exercise tool, however, instead they make a great adjunct to other bands. They also don’t take up much room in a bag, so some people will find them to be a good way to go.

Figure 8 bands are specialized for certain exercises. You may wish to add them to your collection, but chances are they shouldn’t be the only tool in your belt.

Other Things to Look For

In addition to the type of band you’re considering, you’ll have to look at some of the other qualities inherent to them. Make sure all of the following are in order before you commit to a purchase for the best results in your workout.

Handles

If the bands you’re considering have handles, then you want to make sure they’re good ones.

Unsurprisingly, uncomfortable grips can make for an extremely uncomfortable workout. We don’t recommend something too squishy for most people, but something soft and ergonomic is the best way to go.

This is especially important for those who are strength training and are likely to run into a lot of resistance as they get stronger. You don’t want your hands tearing up when you’re trying to do curls after all.

Durability

The durability of your bands is always going to be a big concern. A snapping band is no good, and you’ll have to check your bands for signs of wear frequently in order to ensure that you’re not throwing your money down the drain.

We didn’t test most of our bands for the long term, instead relying on consumer self-reporting to make sure that we didn’t get anything with a short life band.

We’ll go over how to check your bands for damage in a little bit.

Interchangeability

For those who are looking to get serious with their bands, you’re going to want something which you can change out or attach multiple bands to.

More than that, however, you want an easy way to do it. While some of the cheaper handles out there just have you tie a dove-tail, the best work with some kind of clip which can handle multiple bands.

The attachment points are also a pretty big deal. Under heavy resistance, too much pulling can destroy the loops on the ends of cheaper bands so make sure that everything is attached very well if you’re planning on doing strength training.

Door Attachments

Door attachments are awesome. They’ll let you perform a much wider variety of exercises.

Most of these are pretty simple, you loop them through the hinge side of the door and it’ll prevent you from pulling the band entirely free.

This creates an extremely solid anchor point which allows you to use the bands like a cable machine. Talk about making the most out of your bands!

Variable Resistance

If you’re just doing rehab or prehab with bands, then you may want not care if you can really get up there in resistance.

For those looking to use resistance bands to get stronger, however, the ability to finely change resistance over time is a huge advantage.

Ideally the bands will reach from featherweight to extremely heavy resistance in fine gradations. In practice, six to eight different types of band is usually enough provided you can loop bands together and have a door attachment.

Sample Resistance Band Exercises

If you’ve never used bands before, then you may end up a bit confused without some instruction. With a door attachment it’s actually possible to get a total body workout.

The main thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to find an anchor point when using your bands in order to create the resistance you need.

Arm Exercises

Bicep curls are usually one of the first things that people figure out how to do with their bands. The dynamic tension actually works the biceps remarkably well and the exercise is simple.

Stand on the band and curl your arms upwards. Don’t just release on the way down, instead perform the eccentric slowly to get the most usage out of the band.

You can vary the resistance by moving your feet inwards and outwards, the farther outwards you’re standing on the band the harder it will be.

Triceps are a little bit more complicated, our personal favorite is easy enough however: using a door attachment, bring your hands to a 90° angle with your upper arms. Bend forward and push backwards with the loops in your hands.

Chest Exercises

The main chest exercise which people do with resistance bands is pushups with the band adding extra resistance.

You can also approximate a bench press.

Anchor the band under a bench and then simulate the bench pressing motion. As always, you’ll want to lower slowly.

You can also anchor things with a wall attachment and then do standing chest presses.

Back Exercises

Working out your back with resistance bands is remarkably easy. Different row variations can quickly and easily be done with just your feet or a door attachment point. Each row will hit different parts of your back and you may want to look them up to figure it out.

In general, vertical rows primarily work the rhomboids and trapezius muscles while more horizontal ones are great for the lats and posterior deltoids.

Shoulder Exercises

Pick a lighter resistance band if you’re planning on doing overhead pressing. It takes some serious strength and some of the heavier bands just don’t have the length for you to be able to do overhead presses with them.

You can also work out the sides of your shoulders by raising your arms laterally with the handles in your hands.

Get Creative

It’s impossible to go over all the variations of exercises you can do with your resistance bands Basically, the better you know how your muscles work in the first place, the better off you’re going to be when it comes time to work out.

Bands also allow for some impressive supersets to be done quite easily. Simply switch to the position for the next exercise and perform them back to back without stopping. These are particularly advantageous when you

Bands are awesome, but your approach will likely be different than when you use more traditional devices like weights. Time under tension is where bands shine, so approach them that way and you’ll end up with a great plan.

Conclusion

While resistance bands aren’t going to replace all of your exercise equipment any time soon, they’re a great addition to the spectrum. Pick up the best set you can find and get to work, with a creative workout plan and the right bands by your side you’ll soon have opened a whole new world of creative workout plans.

You don’t have to fall prey to the assumption that bands are just for those messing around. You can get some serious work done with your bands with the right choices, and the therapeutic value for rehab and prehab exercises is enormous.

No reason to wait, get the right set for your body and goals today and you’ll be in good hands.